Diabetes is an insulin-related disease that affects nearly 21 million people in the USA. This grave situation is characterized by the bodys inability to produce enough using the services or insulin. It is the hormone, insulin, which is responsible for hot flashes from glucose into the cells of the body. When blood sugar rises, our health suffers greatly.

According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC), about 14.6 million people in the USA are diagnosed with the disease, while nearly 6 million people have not yet been diagnosed. In a 2005 NDIC report, the total results with regard to diabetes patients of all ages, from those of the elderly to experience toddlers May symptoms of diabetes. Typically, type 2 diabetes who suffer are usually diagnosed between the ages of 35 and 50.

The symptoms of diabetes

There are many signs that alert a person that May be suffering from diabetes. Common symptoms of diabetes May occur in bulk or a patient May an exhibition only a few. Whatever the case May, when any of the following diabetes symptoms appear, patients should contact their doctor.

Individuals should be on the lookout for: frequent urination, extreme hunger or thirst, blurred vision, sudden weight loss, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, fatigue, skin too dry, increased infections and slow healing of wounds. People with type 1 diabetes symptoms include nausea, vomiting and / or abdominal pain.

Different types of diabetes

If you experience symptoms that prove the disease, it will be diagnosed as suffering either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5-10% of diagnosed cases of diabetes where the immune system actually destroys the cells in the body that produce insulin. This type of diabetes May also be regarded as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile-onset diabetes. Most people with the disease are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which involves the bodys resistance to insulin. Another type of diabetes exists, but only affects 2-5% of pregnant women. It is called gestational diabetes and has the potential to harm the mother and child when they are not treated.

From Diabetes

When accompanied by regular exercise and proper medication, healthy eating habits can relieve the symptoms of diabetes. Thanks to a balanced diet, filled with a healthy mix of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, good nutrition can be used as a defence against the symptoms associated with diabetes. Acceptable foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, beans, milk 2% and lean meats. The fried foods and very sweet foods should be avoided if diagnosis of diabetes.

Demand for treatment is important

When you think you are exhibiting symptoms of diabetes, an immediate visit to a doctor is required. The reason is that when diabetes is not treated, a host of debilitating health problems follows closely. Since foot problems tend to affect diabetics, there are many concerns in this area, including infection, gangrene and amputation. The eye problems are also common in people with diabetes. When left untreated, blindness May occur. Other health problems associated with diabetes untreated symptoms include heart disease and renal failure. The disease is so serious that it is a major cause of death in the USA.

video of Cade

Type 1 diabetes mellitus - diabetes, for short. This chemical disorder disrupts the body’s ability to utilize certain nutrients, primarily a blood sugar called glucose.

Treatment for diabetes is made more difficult because a person can have the disease a long time before it is diagnosed. “Because the early symptoms are relatively mild,” notes Asiaweek magazine, “diabetes often goes unrecognized.” Hence, diabetes has been dubbed the silent killer.

Why Serious

Diabetes has been called “a disorder of the very engine of life,” and for good reason. When the body cannot metabolize glucose, a number of vital mechanisms can break down, sometimes with life-threatening consequences. “People don’t die directly from diabetes,” says Dr. Harvey Katzeff, “they die from complications. We do a good job of preventing complications, but a poor job of treating [them] once they occur.”

Diet and Exercise

Although Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, scientists are studying the genetic risk factors and are trying to find ways to suppress an immune attack. “With type 2, the picture is much brighter,” says the book Diabetes - Caring for Your Emotions as Well as Your Health. “Many of those who might be genetically susceptible avoid showing any sign of this disease simply by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly, thereby staying physically fit and keeping their weight within normal limits.”

Underscoring the value of exercise, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported on a large study involving women. The study found that “a single bout of physical activity increases insulin-mediated glucose uptake [by the body's cells] for more than 24 hours.” Hence, the report concludes that “both walking and vigorous activity are associated with substantial reductions in risk of type 2 diabetes in women.” The researchers recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most if not all days of the week. This can include something as simple as walking, which, says the American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes, “is probably the best, safest, and least expensive form of exercise.”

However, exercise by people with diabetes should be professionally supervised. One reason is that diabetes can damage the vascular system and nerves, thus affecting blood circulation and feeling. Hence, a simple scratch on the foot may go unnoticed, get infected, and turn into an ulcer - a serious condition that may lead to amputation if not treated immediately.

Insulin Therapy

Many with diabetes must supplement their diet and exercise program with daily testing of glucose levels along with multiple insulin injections. As a result of improved health through diet and a good routine of exercise, some with Type 2 diabetes have been able, at least for a time, to discontinue insulin therapy. Karen, who has Type 1 diabetes, found that exercise increases the efficiency of the insulin she injects. As a result, she has been able to cut her daily insulin requirements by 20 percent.

If insulin is needed, however, there is no reason for the sufferer to feel discouraged. “Going on insulin does not imply failure on your part,” says Mary Ann, a registered nurse who cares for a number of diabetes patients. “Whatever form of diabetes you have, if you carefully control your blood sugar, you will minimize other health problems later.” In fact, a recent study revealed that people with Type 1 who kept strict control of their blood-sugar levels “had drastic reductions in the occurrence of diabetic eye, kidney, and nerve diseases.” The risk of eye disease (retinopathy), for instance, was cut by 76 percent! Those with Type 2 who keep tight control of their blood-sugar levels enjoy similar benefits.

To make insulin therapy easier and less traumatic, syringes and insulin pens - the most common tools used - have microfine needles that give minimal discomfort. “The first shot is usually the worst,” says Mary Ann. “After that, most patients say they hardly feel a thing.” Other methods of injection include automatic injectors that shoot a needle into the skin painlessly, jet injectors that literally fire insulin through the skin by means of a fine jet blast, and infusers that employ a catheter that stays in place for two or three days. About the size of a pocket pager, the insulin pump has gained popularity in recent years. This programmable device dispenses insulin through a catheter at a steady rate according to the body’s daily needs, making insulin administration more precise and convenient.

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All told, there is no blanket therapy for diabetes. When considering treatment, each individual must take into account a number of factors in order to make a personal decision. “Even though you may be under the care of a medical team,” says Mary Ann, “you are in the driver’s seat.” In fact, the journal Diabetes Care states: “Medical treatment of diabetes without systematic self-management education can be regarded as substandard and unethical care.”

The more those with diabetes learn about their disease, the better equipped they will be to manage their health and increase their prospects of living a longer, healthier life.

The Role of Glucose

Glucose fuels the body’s trillions of cells. To enter the cells, however, it needs a “key” - insulin, a chemical released by the pancreas. With Type 1 diabetes, insulin is simply not available. With Type 2, the body makes insulin but usually not enough. Moreover, the cells are reluctant to let insulin in - a condition called insulin resistance. With both forms of diabetes, the result is the same: hungry cells and dangerous levels of sugar in the blood.

In Type 1 diabetes, a person’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Hence, Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and is sometimes called immune-mediated diabetes. Factors that can trigger an immune reaction include viruses, toxic chemicals, and certain drugs. Genetic makeup may also be implicated, for Type 1 diabetes often runs in families, and it is most common among Caucasians.

With Type 2 diabetes, the genetic factor is even stronger but with a greater occurrence among non-Caucasians. Australian Aborigines and Native Americans are among the most affected, the latter having the highest rate of Type 2 diabetes in the world. Researchers are studying the relationship between genetics and obesity, as well as the way excess fat seems to promote insulin resistance in genetically susceptible people. Unlike Type 1, Type 2 diabetes occurs mainly in those who are over 40 years of age.

About 90 percent of those with diabetes have Type 2. Previously, this was referred to as “non-insulin dependent” or “adult onset” diabetes. However, these terms are imprecise, for up to 40 percent of those with Type 2 diabetes require insulin. Furthermore, an alarming number of young people - some not even in their teens - are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

The Role of the Pancreas

About the size of a banana, the pancreas lies just behind the stomach. According to the book The Unofficial Guide to Living With Diabetes, “the healthy pancreas performs a continuous and exquisite balancing act, managing to sustain smooth, stable blood-sugar levels by releasing just the right amount of insulin as glucose levels wax and wane throughout the day.” Beta cells within the pancreas are the source of the hormone insulin.

When beta cells fail to produce enough insulin, glucose builds up in the blood, causing hyperglycemia. The opposite - low blood sugar - is called hypoglycemia. In concert with the pancreas, the liver helps manage blood-sugar levels by storing excess glucose in a form called glycogen. When commanded by the pancreas, the liver converts glycogen back into glucose for use by the body

The Role of Sugar

It is a common misconception that eating a lot of sugar causes diabetes. Medical evidence shows that getting fat - regardless of sugar intake - increases the risk among genetically susceptible individuals. Still, eating too much sugar is unhealthy, since it provides poor nutrition and contributes to obesity.

Another misconception is that people with diabetes have an abnormal craving for sugar. In reality, though, they have the same desire for sweets as most others. When it is not controlled, diabetes can lead to hunger - but not necessarily for sugar. People with diabetes can eat sweets, but they must factor their sugar intake into their overall diet plan.

Diabetes affects over 18 million people, another 15 million may not yet be diagnosed, and that is in the United States alone! Currently diabetes is the 3rd leading cause of death in America. The truth about diabetes is that the body does not produce, or properly use, the insulin necessary for the body to absorb glucose (sugar). The glucose then accumulates in the bloodstream until levels get dangerously high. This condition then leads to diabetes symptoms like: lack of energy, unusual weight gain, restless sleep, blurred vision, and tingling sensations in the affected individual.

Millions have gone to their family doctor with symptoms of diabetes, only to find they are prescribed diabetes medication, told to begin a diabetes diet, and change their lifestyle for the rest of their lives. Suddenly, controlling diabetes becomes their entire life. The great news is; diabetes management can be attained with less diabetes medicine for people diagnosed with type one diabetes and especially, type 2 diabetes. There are certain herbs for diabetes treatment that alleviate many of diabetes symptoms. These herbs are:

Banaba; well known for its ability to lower blood sugar levels and transport glucose in the bloodstream (referred to by some as “botanical insulin”).

Bitter Melon; known to improve glucose tolerance and for its regulative abilities (considered the best for diabetes management by the Philippines Dept. of Health).

Cinnamon; proven to reduce the amount of insulin necessary for glucose metabolism by USDA research.

Gymnema Sylvestre; can lower blood sugar levels in both type one diabetes and diabetes type 2, as indicated in a Harvard Study.

Huckleberry; strengthens the immune system, balances digestion, and improves blood circulation in the hands and feet.

Chromium; shown to help cells respond to naturally produced insulin since the 1960’s (currently it is estimated 90% of Americans are deficient in this vital nutrient).

Zinc; contributes many factors to diabetes control. Zinc is essential for the pancreas to produce insulin. When zinc levels are low, diabetes treatments are hindered due to the pancreas’ inability to produce the body’s own insulin and insulin receptor cells may become damaged.

Biotin; important B Vitamin for processing insulin. A study has shown that Type 1 diabetics receiving 16 mgs. of Biotin for one week, cut their fasting glucose by 50%. A type 2 diabetes study showed similar results.

Conventional diabetes treatment will only help control diabetes and simply delay the devastating affects. Without a diabetes cure, complications from diabetes can lead to blindness, heart disease, nerve damage, kidney failure, limb amputations, and even death! And let’s not forget that diabetes prescriptions most often carry their own set of possible adverse side effects such as skin rash, weight gain, diarrhea, liver damage, respiratory infections, and headaches, just to name a few. To learn more about naturally and gently healing diabetes, visit GreatNewsHealth.com.

Resource Box

If you suffer from diabetes, you need to take control of your health. At GreatNewsHealth.com you can find diabetes information and diabetes health articles. Basically, it offers a diabetes treatment and cure. Just mushing together a bunch of herbs will not effectively heal diabetes. Cheap, poor quality supplements are virtually useless as they have low effectiveness and will not improve your health. Visit http://GreatNewsHealth.com and discover how diabetics can lower blood sugar levels 50 points within 30 days, guaranteed.

DIABETES TESTING

Regular blood glucose testing by people with diabetes is important to help control it, and also prevent long-term complications. Good control of blood glucose levels can prevent or reduce serious complications.

Frequent testing can show how changes in diet, exercise, medications or weight are having an effect on a patient’s diabetes.

Close monitoring of blood glucose levels allows control and timely intervention to prevent diabetic complications.

Why is testing important for diabetic patients?

Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels (blood glucose) gives valuable information as to whether the level is within the normal range.

If kept in control, this can delay the onset or development of long term diabetic complications, which can even be life-threatening.

People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes can monitor their blood sugar themselves, by using thumb prick blood tests which are available as home kits. Self-monitoring is very important for long-term health.

What are the routine tests that are followed?

Regular self testing, recording of blood glucose levels by thumb prick blood tests, laboratory test of HbA1c (glycosylated haemoglobin) level a few times a year should be taken.

Other tests that should be performed routinely include: urine test to monitor kidney function; blood fat levels (cholesterol & triglyceride levels), and tests for kidney function.

Regular blood pressure measurement and treatment if needed.

Examination of the feet is also necessary, as the patient may not be aware of loss of sensation from early nerve damage.

Also, get eyes tested every 1 to 2 years, depending on test results.

How is diabetes and pre-diabetes diagnosed?

The following test are the normal tests whoich are used for diagnosis:

1. Fasting plasma glucose test –

This measures the blood glucose with a minimum gap of at least 8 hours without eating. It is best done on an empty stomach in the morning. This test is used to detect diabetes or pre-diabetes.

If a person’s fasting glucose level is 100 to 125 mg/dL, you have a form of pre-diabetes called impaired fasting glucose (IFG), meaning that one is quite likely to develop type 2 diabetes but does not have it yet.

A level of 126 mg/dL or above, confirmed by repeating the test on another day, means that one is diabetic.

99 mg/dL and below – normal, not diabetic

100 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL – pre diabetic

126 mg/dL and above – diabetic.

2. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) –

This measures the blood glucose after one has not eaten for least 8 hours, and then 2 hours after drinking 75 grams glucose-containing beverage. This test is used to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes.

This test is more sensitive than the fasting plasma glucose test for diagnosing pre-diabetes.

If 2 hours after drinking the liquid, the blood glucose level of a person is between 140 and 199 mg/dL, then it a form of pre-diabetes called impaired glucose tolerance or IGT, meaning that one is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes but does not have it yet.

Glucose level of 200 mg/dL or above, confirmed by repeating the test on another day, means that one has diabetes.

139 mg/dL and below – not diabetic, normal

140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL – pre diabetes

200 mg/dL and above - diabetic

Gestational diabetes is diagnosed based on plasma glucose values measured during the OGTT. Blood glucose levels are checked four times during the test. If the blood glucose levels are above normal at least twice during the test, then the person has gestational diabetes.

3. Random plasma glucose test –

This measures blood glucose without regard to when you ate your last meal. This test, along with an assessment of symptoms, is used to diagnose diabetes, but not pre-diabetes.

A random blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or more, alongwith presence of the following symptoms, can suggest that one has diabetes:

· increased urination

· increased thirst

· unexplained weight loss

Other associated symptoms include fatigue, blurred vision, increased appetite, and sores that do not heal.

Test results are confirmed only after repeating the fasting plasma glucose test or the oral glucose tolerance test on a different day.

What is HbA1c or the glycosylated haemoglobin test?

HbA1c (glycosylated haemoglobin) gets collected in red blood cells when they are produced. This gives a clue about the blood sugar levels over a couple of months - the average lifespan of a red blood cell. Thus, this test shows the average blood glucose level over time, as compared to the thumb prick test, which indicates blood glucose at the time of testing.

If the HbA1c level is above 7%, consult a doctor for a better diabetes management plan.

If the HbA1c level is above 8%, the doctor may change medication or a more intensive insulin regime be used.

The combination of HbA1c test and thumb prick test results give a better indication of variations in blood glucose levels than either test alone.

How often should blood sugar testing be done?

Diabetic patients who are taking insulin injections should self test 3-4 times everyday, especially before retiring to bed. Type 2 diabetic patients on medicines should self test around a few times every week.

It is best to check glucose levels first thing in the morning; and before and after meals. Keep changing daily test times to get a better idea of the changes to blood glucose levels.

For diabetes information, diabetes diet, diabetes treatment, diabetes causes visit www.diabetesmellitus-information.com

Diabetes is growing at an epidemic pace in the United States, there is no arguing that. Over 20 million Americans have diabetes, with 6 million of them not even knowing it. Unfortunately, many people have no idea what diabetes really is, or what symptoms to look for. Diabetes is a serious health issue. It’s the sixth leading cause of death in this country, and there is no cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes at this time. Here’s a quick diabetes for dummy overlook to help you better understand.

How do people get diabetes?

When we eat any kind of food, our body takes that food and turns it into energy, or better said, into sugar while digesting it. This is what gives us the energy we need to survive. And during this process, insulin is produced from our pancreas which controls the sugar in our bloodstream. This entire process is what keeps our body healthy.

Without the pancreas producing this insulin, the sugar will stay in our blood and begin to create serious health issues. High blood sugar can cause blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, and other organ function problems. And without treating high blood sugar, it can be fatal. In diabetes for dummy’s, it is vital to get tested regularly to make sure your normal blood sugar levels are safe.

What types of diabetes are there?

Type 1 Diabetes - This type of diabetes usually is associated with adolescents and children. Type 1 Diabetes is found in approximately 1 in every 400-600 children. Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the immune system destroys the cells that the pancreas makes into insulin.

Type 1 Diabetes patients have to have daily insulin injections in order to survive. There is no known cure yet, but new methods are on the horizon.

Type 2 Diabetes - This type of diabetes is the most common, occurring in 90-95% of all cases. With Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas simply can not continue to produce the insulin that is required, or the cells just don’t respond to the insulin any longer. Most of the time, Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled through a proper diet and exercise plan. But, if that fails, oral medication can be prescribed to get it under control.

Gestational Diabetes - This form of diabetes is only found pregnant women. It is similar to Type 2 diabetes and it usually occurs in 2-7% of all pregnancies. Gestational diabetes is caused from the pancreas not being able to keep up with the required amount of insulin to control the glucose level. Gestational diabetes will usually go away after a pregnancy, but there is an increased risk of both mother and baby becoming diabetic later on in life.

Tests for Gestational Diabetes are usually done around the 26th week of pregnancy, which is the time insulin resistance usually starts.

Pre-Diabetes - This is also called borderline diabetes. Pre-Diabetes is diagnosed when patients are showing the signs of having high blood sugar levels and are starting to have trouble in keeping them down. One of the most important facts to realize in diabetes for dummy’s is that over 40 million people have Pre-Diabetes. That is astounding. If left untreated, Pre-Diabetes will almost always turn into Type 2 Diabetes. Anyone with Pre-Diabetes needs to change their diet and start on an exercise program. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Also, have your blood sugar levels checked frequently.

As mentioned earlier, there is no known cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. The only option available to anyone with Type 1 Diabetes is to have a pancreas transplant. But, that is not a great option with the possibilities of other problems arising such as the body rejecting the new pancreas, not to mention the surgery itself. Science is working feverishly on new ways of treating diabetes including the transplanting of insulin producing cells within the pancreas, and even making an artificial pancreas.

There are even efforts to produce an inhalation device that puts out insulin instead of having to have daily injections. These advancements are on the horizon and will be available in the not too distant future. In the meantime, diabetes for dummy says to check your blood sugar levels, and know what they are. You only have one body and we all need to take care of it as best we can.

It is said that for every 3 Americans born in 2000, 1 of them is likely to be under contract with diabetes in their lifetime. This means that by the year 2050, 29 million Americans will be diagnosed with diabetes, while another 10 million have undiagnosed diabetes. This figure is estimated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Diabetes can be considered a fatal disease in the way it affects millions of people around the world. Not only those who are diagnosed with diabetes are affected, some even their family and friends catch the disease as well. Diabetes is a serious illness and death can affect a person’s eyes, kidneys, feet and hearts. Diabetes affects a person directly insulin productivity.

Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in Canada and is also behind the country an enormous $ 9 billion of losses each year. In addition, people with diabetes aged between 20 and 74 are very sensitive to blindness.

Although diabetes surgery May be an interesting option for patients with diabetes, there is still no long-term data on its benefits and risks in a large number of people.

Diabetic surgery is certainly not a magic pill that you can expect to get rid of the disease overnight, but it is certainly a good alternative nonetheless. For type 1 diabetes, surgery is done, it is only some cases. For type 2 diabetes, however, surgery can be done at all.

After performing surgery on obese people with diabetes, surgeons found that 98% of these people have more diabetes a few weeks later. This phenomenon can be attributed to weight loss that the period is too short.

However, although research has been done to suggest that surgery can cure diabetes diabetes, some doctors still feel that this rule is the last resort.

Diabetes is becoming increasingly a threat to global health. If diabetes is left untreated it can cause long-term health problems because the high levels of glucose in the blood damage the blood vessels. Simply put, diabetes is a deadly disease that impairs the body’s ability to properly use food. The key to the management of diabetes is education and knowledge.